Coalition opposes CWIP legislation

Opponents of a legislative effort to enact a law allowing electric utilities to charge ratepayers while facilities are under construction is under fire from a coalition of organizations. Missourians for Fair Electric Rates – which includes such groups AARP, Consumers Council of Missouri, the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, and the Missouri Sierra Club – would like to see the current restrictions on charging ratepayers before project completion remain in place.

The organization says Construction Work in Progress or CWIP legislation is wrong for so many reasons, including leaving ratepayers open to any and all risk. Senate Bill 228 , if approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Jay Nixon, would do away with a No-CWIP law that was approved by voters in 1976.

The current bill would allow AmerenUE – the state’s largest public utility – to build a second power plant at its Callaway County Nuclear Plant and pass the costs along to ratepayers while the work is in progress.